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Sunday, June 17, 2012

“RrrrriPPP!” The pieces
of paper my toddler hands got a hold of was instantly torn in several pieces. It doesn’t take long for his tiny, curious
hands to grab a hold of something before I realize his destruction project is
underway.

Some things do seem to just slip through our fingertips and
glide right by our noises don’t they?

I have been feeling a bit sentimental lately; and I’m not
sure exactly why?

It could be a culmination of all the change that has
occurred close to my heart this last year; and the seemingly faster pace of these
minute hands on the clock called life.

It could be that it is just this season of summer and I feel
the urge to soak up the joy with my boys.
The desire to spend my time and energy on the things that matter the most
to me…my boys.

This week on Girlfriendit Radio, Patty and Lisa chatted with
Wm. Paul Young, the author of the Shack.
Young talked a lot about focusing on what matters most and I was so
encouraged to not look at what I desire to do right now with my boys as another
item on my to do list but look at our time together as an “adventure.” There were
so many other great take-aways from listening to Young…you can download the
podcast and listen here.

As a little girl, adventures always scared me; but slowly—God
has been transforming my heart into a girl seeking adventure. It began almost 20 years ago when I met my
husband and discovered who Jesus was too.
I literally jumped in with both feet.
And, I am thankful for the memory my husband I created late one night at
the lake; with a full moon over head and the calm still lake below as we stood
at the edge of the cliff…yes this little girl once scared of adventure and
unfamiliar with embracing the pure thrill of letting go was learning to embrace
the unknown while holding the hand of her man!

I want more of this…and although I am not thinking of
trekking up the cliff at the next full moon—I am thinking about embracing the
adventure of this summer with my boys.

Some girlfriends who have watched their own boys turn into
men recently shared some great ideas:

*midnight chats (plop myself on their bed before we say good
night and just listen)

*hugs (the power of touch to communicate love)

*pray (huddle up and pray with them)

*memorize scripture with them (plant the seeds of truth)

*laugh with them
(good times…games…story-telling)

Years ago, my boyfriend, now husband had a great idea to
take me cliff jumping; and this summer I want to follow suit with some more adventure with my growing boys. As I stare at the multiple pieces of torn
paper—I want to see confetti and choose to throw it up in the air—rather than
just toss it away. Who knows...this kind
of attitude may just lead us to cliff jumping together some day-ha!

I would love to hear your ideas too…what are you doing to
embrace the time with your kids this summer?

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

It wasn’t that long ago that I was surprised by a
storm. A literal one, that reminded me
also of how storms of the heart, mind and soul can occur unexpectantly.

I sat working near my patio doors, which face towards the
North and the sun was blazing through the windowpanes sharing its warmth. On the opposite end of the house I heard the doorknob
turn with added force as my boys feet came running in from playing ball. A gush of cold wind ushered them through the
doors and also seemed to turn up the volume of their voices as they spoke about
the sudden dark clouds, rain and lightning.

We used this time to use up the lingering hot cocoa packets
in the pantry while their soggy heads dried out and we watched the rain
fall. I am thankful for the opportunity
to pause and be present.

Life is sure full of storms; but I am not sure I am always
ready to celebrate all of the storms that come my way like I did that spring
afternoon. . There are many situations, events and
circumstances that occur in our days that bring either a physical or mental
downpour on our hearts. Storms are
pretty significant and meteorologists even give the weather storms various
names, like Haboob, or
specific names like, Tropical Storm Alberto, the
first Atlantic storm of 2012.

Maybe some
storms that have come your way recently have been named too…. Storm Medical
Diagnosis, Storm Financial Distress, and maybe Storm Misunderstanding.

When storms hit; where do you go running for shelter? I know I don’t always run to celebrate with a
cup of hot cocoa. And there is a time to
grieve and a time to celebrate…right!?!

I was reminded this week of how important it is to run to my
best friend Jesus; but I admit sometimes I struggle with running to Him
first. Can you relate?

And the BIG question on my heart is does a storm mean that
God is disciplining us?

This question was asked this week on Girlfriendit Radio and
I encourage you to hear what Pastor Tullian had to say. You can find the podcast here.

My heart latched onto Pastor Tullian’s words; and my breaths
felt lighter. Just because we are
dealing with a storm does not mean that God is disciplining us. Pastor Tullian brought up the stories in the
Bible about Job and his friends and also Jesus chatting with his disciples
about who sinned in the life of the blind man….I had to search for sweet Jesus’
words in John 9… “Neither this man nor his parents sinned.”

I’m not in a storm now; but I have been and I know I will
find another one over my head soon—because that is just how life is. Pastor Tullian reminded me that life cannot
be lived without the presence of storms.

We must learn to trust God.
A friend once encouraged me with her goal to keep the highs not so high
and the lows not so low.

What about you? How
do you handle the storms—are you in one right now? Are you preparing for the next one?

I am so thankful for the perspective of others-and the
reminder from Tullian that while I am waiting to hear from God about a storm, I
will likely have to tune out some well meaning friends, like those who tried to
help Job through his storm.

I wonder if this might be key to learning to dance in the
downpours of life. Just as I was quick
to celebrate the storm with hot cocoa; I want to be quick to celebrate and
dance through the storms of this life.

I’m beginning to think that while dancing in the rain I just
might be surprised with a shower of God’s amazing grace…and I’m trusting God
and trusting it is ALL GOOD! I want to learn to dance in the rain...

And on a side note; I’m adding a plethora of books to my
summer reading collection. The latest is
Tullian’s book “Surprised by Grace,”….who knows when the next shower will
hit. What are you reading this summer?

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Who is this J-Girl?

So J-Girl is the affectionate name my husband called me over 15 years ago and it reminds me that God has placed his affection on me and has chosen me (Deut 7:7)…along with you sweet girlfriend. Please call me Julie; that’s what my family and friends call me. I am really just an average wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend…with a story…a God given story. The most recent chapter of this story involves mothering the new precious gift in our family, writing as God nudges and joining other teams of servants at Mending the Soul Ministries and the movement Girlfriendit where I am frequently encouraged to awaken the parts of my heart that God desires to use to bring life to both myself and those around me.